Interim report finds UNRWA needs to address 'critical' areas

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An independent review group responsible for evaluating the neutrality and responses of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Wednesday it had identified “critical areas” that need to be addressed.

The review group, led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, “will now develop concrete and realistic recommendations on how to address these critical areas to strengthen and improve UNRWA”, a statement read.

The UN did not provide details on what these critical areas might be.

The group is due to present its final report on the UNRWA to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the end of April.

The UN agency, created in 1949, came under heavy scrutiny after Israel accused about a dozen of its employees of involvement in the October 7 Hamas attacks that resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 240.

The claims led to the US and other countries freezing funds for the agency, which is responsible for delivering humanitarian aid and services to Palestinians in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and countries in the region.

The world body has launched an internal and an independent investigation into the claims.

Amid growing fears of starvation in Gaza, Australia, Canada, Sweden and the EU have resumed funding for the agency, which is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states.

But Washington has refused to resume funding the UNRWA until the end of its own investigation, although US media reported this month that the National Intelligence Council said in a report that the accusations against agency staff could not be independently verified.

The UNRWA employs about 30,000 people in the Palestinian territories – including 13,000 in Gaza – as well as neighbouring Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

The head of the agency, Philippe Lazzarini, told the General Assembly this month that it is facing a deliberate and concerted campaign to undermine its operations, aimed at ultimately ending them.

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Omar Yabroudi's factfile

Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah

Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University

2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship

2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy

2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment

2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment

2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager

Third Test

Day 3, stumps

India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151

India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

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September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

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December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

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August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

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